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Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

1.      MOTHS!  I know it makes no sense to most people but moths are gross.  They have a very erratic flight pattern.  They fly right in your face.  They are dusty.  When I was a preteen I went to my friend’s cabin for the weekend, we shared the only bed in the upstairs loft; it was going to be a great weekend.  When we climbed into bed that first night, there was a large moth in the bed that flew around our feet and then flew up to our faces and out the room.  It was horrifying.   I learned this fear from my mom (who is working on overcoming it) and my grandma.  Bring on snakes and spiders, I will be fine; but put me in a room with a moth - no thank you!

2.      Making phone calls.  It is dumb I know, but I struggle to make phone calls.  I don’t really know why I am afraid to call people.  It really does not matter who I am calling, whether it is people for home maintenance, medical professionals, family, or friends, I just don’t like calling people.  As a result, I don’t get important things done very quickly, I struggle to get my visiting teaching done each month, and my friends and family probably think I don’t care about them.  I have gotten better over the years, I used to have to write out a script of what I was calling about before I made the call, I would even practice simple phone calls like – “do you want to play”.  Texting is good for this fear, but even then, I struggle at times with it.  I am also terrible at returning phone calls.  This more than anything is something I need to overcome.

3.      One of my greatest hopes and fondest dreams is that my children will grow up and live happy, productive and successful lives; and most importantly that they will always be active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; serving missions, marrying in the temple, serving faithfully in the church, and holding fast to the scriptures.  Thus, one of my greatest fears is that this will not happen.   Nearly everything I do is with the intention of providing my children with a strong foundation of education and testimony so that as life gets harder for them and as they go out on their own they will be prepared. 

4.      Obviously, there is the fear that everyone who has a family to love and cherish each and every day has; and that is losing our association with our loved ones here on earth because of death.  It’s not a fun thing to think about, so we don’t; and nothing more needs to be said on the subject.

5.      I am afraid and timid about sharing the gospel.  I know it is foolish.  When you have truth, light and true joy that comes from the gospel why would sharing it be scary.  Fear of rejection I guess.  That right there is a legitimate fear.

Fear is an interesting thing.  We are to have faith not fear.  I was trying to think what my fears are, and moths and phone calls stuck out only because they are so silly, but I struggled to think what else I am afraid of, the other three fears have some validity, but I must admit that the fear is not consuming and while I really hope I do not have to face those fears I know that if I do, it will be okay because of my faith.  The Lord said, “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”  Doctrine and Covenants 68:6   I know this is true and I am grateful for it.